Circuit-protecting device.



BEST AVAlLABLE com PATENTED'SEPT. 1A3, 1904.

' E. W. 3105, JR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 1903.

30 uonnL.

Fig, I.

Witnesses- Inventor Edwin W. R|ce Jrz. by

BEST AVAILABLE coPt Patented September-18; 1mg:

.OFFICE.

a a J EDWIN w; Rios, JR'Qor SQHEN-ECTADY, iusw OR "AssiGNoR To 4 ER L-emeral ,COMPANLA CORPORATION OF NEW roan.

I'- o R UIr-PRQ E TI NG DEVICE. 7

'- srncmca'r'zon forming part of Letters 'iatent N5 769,96}; aged September 13 j Application filed February 18,1903. emu 1%. 143,912. on model.) i

To all whom/it may concern:

Be it knownthat LEnwm W. RICE, J r.,-

acitizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady,- county of Schenectady, State of cation. 7 I 1 My invention relates to a device for protecting anvelectric circuit from the efiects of y a lightning orother higlrpotential discharge,

and comprises certain novel features, which l have pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. A

The invention itself, as exemplified in one of-the numerous embodiments of which it is capable, I have described in detail in the f llowing specification, which is to be taken in '1 connection with the accompanying drawings,

in which- I.

Figure 1 represents a plan-view of ainrcuitprotecting device or lightning-arrcster built in accordance with my invention, and Fig; 2

' a side elevation of the same.

"like. At each end of the rod is arranged a series of spark-gap terminals or balls, one of these series consisting of the balls 3, 4, 5, and 6, the last mentioned being provided with a binding-post 7 for connecting one end of the lightning-arrcster in circuit. The other end of the resistance-rod is similarly provided 'with a series of balls 8,9, '10, and 11,,the last mentioned being, like the ball 6 of the other series, provided with a binding-post 12, forming the remaining terminal of the lightning arrester. These ball s'orspgu'k-gap terminals may be formed-of brass or other suitable metal and may be arranged in two series, as

.shown, one on either side, so 'to speak, of the,

resistance-rod 2, or, if pleferred, one series onlymay be employed: Connection ground.

between the balls? and s and the adjacent ends of the resistance-rod 2, near which they'.

are located, by clips 13 14, electrically 0on nected withtherespective spark-gap terminals 'o balls-8 and 3.

A'series of rings 15, which may be split, 1 are sprung about .or shrunk upon' the resistance-rod2at intervalsin the length thereof:

so that 'eacliring'is separated from its nejgh form spark-gap terminals.

. In connecting up the lightning-arrester or.

protecting devicebne terminal is connectedto the line to protected and the other to minals 3 to 6, inclusive, and 8'to 11, inclusive,

In case a relatively smallj-dis-I charge passes through the ahrester the flow,

the circuit of the discharge being'cor'npleted tjrough the resistance-rod 2. The resistance of this rod issuch that it limits the value of the dynamo-current following a' lightning or other high-potential discharge to such a value that the arc-extinguishing action of .the se ries of spark-gap terminals mentioned is sufii':

cient to interrupt the flow .of current. In case a heavy discharge of excessive intensity takes place the path of thedischarge instead of following the resistance-rod 2 extends mostly along the series of rings 1,5 from rlng to ring. As soon, however, as the dynamocurrent starts in response to the path opened up by the high-potential discharge it flows not from ring to ring on the resistance-rod,"

,but passes instead through thedaetter path at -forded by the rod itself. The current thus deserting the'rings 15,' the arcs between the, rings are immediately extinguished, and the. current being reduced in value by the resistance 2 is interrupted through the ard-extiu;

guishing action of the lightning-arrester balls- 1 V in'circ'uit with the rod 2, as above described.

The lightning-arrester, as thus described,

therefore furnishes-a ready path for high-pof tential discharges and operates to interrupt the flow of current resulting from these dis- BEST AVAILABLE COP,

' charges whether the disehii'rge he lhea vy or ;of tired of resistance material, anda plural- 2d relatively light. H J ityrofimetallic ringssecured to said rod and hat-I claim as new, and desiret'osecuieseparated from each other. by tters Patent of the United States, is 5 In alightning-arrester, the combination 5 1 The combination of a plilralityl of s'parkof arod of high-resistance material, and rings gap terminals, and a unitary bodjg'of highof low-resistanee material secured tosaid rod 5 resistance material having-a-seriesof points *angligseparated from each'othen' v in .the length thereof elec'tricalli connected 6f} In a. lightning-arrester, the combination respectively to said spark-gap terminals. I of 'a-plurality of' spark-gap terminals. a rod IO 2. The combination of a rod of'resistanee .of resistancematerial incirenit therewith, and

material, spark-gapterminals arranged sees a pluralitylof rings of conducting material 3 to form Ia circuit therewith, and metallic. secured to said rod at intervals in the length spark-gap terminals secured at intervals to thereof. j' v I said rod. I In witness whereof I havehereizn'to setmy 5 3., In a'lightning-arrester, the combination hand this 16th day of February, '1903.

of a rod of high-resistance material; and me- EDWIN W RICE, J B. tallic spark-gapterminals secured atintervals witnessesza to said rod. BENJAMIN B. HULL,

4. n leaming-w aver, the combination LIARGARETVEVWOOLLEY: 

